Pneumatic dispatch carrier



May 26, I A. KUHN PNEUMATIC DISPATCH CARRIER Filed Sept. 20, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 4

May 26, 1959 A. KUHN PNEUMATIC DISPATCH CARRIER Filed Sept. 20, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 M U MUF M U MUE Fig. 7

'ing r'ing upon suitable forming.

United States Patent PNEUMATIC DISPATCH CARRIER Alfred Kiihn,Berlin-Siemensstadt, Germany, assignor to Siemens & HalskeAktiengesellschaft, Berlin and Mnnich, Germany, a corporation of GermanyApplication September 20, 1956, Serial No. 610,986

Claims priority, application Germany September 30, 1955 6 Claims. (Cl.243-32) The present invention relates to a pneumatic dispatch carrierwith adjustable contact rings which, for the selective control of thepneumatic tube switches, are connected in an electrically conductivemanner in various combinations with a stationary contact ring by meansof a rotary adjustment, so that the corresponding control circuit forthe setting of the switches is produced at the scanning place in thetravel tube .by the contact rings by way of contact wipers which arearranged in the travel tube at a distance apart equal to the spacing ofthe contact rings.

Known contact-ring switches for the selective connection of theindividual contact rings with the stationary contact ring, comprise ametal sleeve surrounding the casing of the dispatch tube carrier, thesleeve being connected to the stationary contact ring and havingcorrespondingly distributed recesses through which the contact springsof a contact-spring ring rotatable about the metal sleeve are broughtout of engagement with the associated contact ring when the contactspring fastened at one end in the spring ring has its olIset middleportion drop into the recess of the metal sleeve. Between the contactrings which are combined into a group and the contact spring ring thereis a ring of insulating material which is rigidly connected mechanicallywith the contact rings and the contact-spring ring and has recesses forthe passage of the contact springs of the contact spring ring. This ringmember consisting of the contact rings, the insulating ring and thecontact spring ring and effecting, by its rotation, the desired settingof the destination of the pneumatic dispatch carrier is an expensivestructural part as compared to the other parts of the pneumatic dispatchcarrier. Depending on whether two, three or four contact rings arecombined to form a group, different molds are necessary into which thecontact rings are placed and combined with the insulat- In an additionaloperation the contact spring ring, which also requires a number of toolsfor its manufacture, must then berigidly connected with the insulatingring by a suitable crimping. The object of the present invention is tosubstantially simplify the production of the contact-ring switches,

. which make the manufacture of dispatch tube carriers with adjustablecontact rings expensive, and to reduce the cost thereof. Anotheradvantage of the invention is that the structural parts of thecontact-ring switch which are subject to wear can be readily replaced atany time, while in the known contact-ring switch, the setting ring,which consists of a plurality of parts, had to be replaced in itsentirety.

These advantages are obtained in accordance with the invention byeffecting the selective connection of the rotatable contact rings withthe fixed contact ring serving for the feeding of the current, via asheet metal sleeve provided with corresponding cutouts and leaf springswhich slide on the sheet metal sleeve, such springs being each insertedin a separate cutout of the insulating rings ICC 2 bearing the contactrings, and being in contact with the associated contact ring, thiscutout being formed from every two adjacent insulating rings so that theleaf spring is at the same time the mechanical coupling memher for theadjacent insulating rings and effects the simultaneous rotating of thecontact rings combined into a 'group. With such a development of thecontact ring switch, it is possible to push the individual parts of thecontact'ring switch individually, one after 'the other, over thedispatch tube carrier and to build up the insulating ring of individualidentical rings so that only a single die is necessary for themanufacture of the insulating ring since the shaping of the insulatingring is no longer dependent on the number of contact rings which are tobe combined to form a group.

The arrangement'of the rotatable contact rings and of the stationarycontact ring is accordingly such that the dispatch tube carrier issuitable both for so-called flying scanning and for stationary scanning.In flying scanning, as is known, the destination characteristic set isascertained as the carrier travels past the contact wipers arranged infixed position in the travel tube. Thearrangement must be such that thecarrier passes the contact 'wipers in sliding engagement therewith atleast in the region of the contact rings as the carrier travels pastwithout causing the wipers to swing back and forth. The carrier musttherefore have'a surface which is as even as possible so that the wipersafter passing over the head of the carrier can come to rest as rapidlyas possible and are not again caused to swing upon passing over thecontact rings. In the dispatch tube carriers having adjustable contactrings which have been known up to the present time this requirement wasonly imperfectly known, is brought to a stop at the .scanning place andthereupon the scanning wipers are applied by a drive to the contactrings of the dispatch tube carrier. The dispatch tube carrier inaccordance with the invention is so developed that it is suitable bothfor flying scanning and for stationary scanning. The present inventionalso differs advantageously from the known embodiments of dispatch tubecarriers with adjustable contact rings by the fact that in connectionwith the setting of the contact rings there is a dependablenotch-stopping which requires no special stop springs. I

This result is achieved in accordance with a further feature of theinvention by the provision on the face side of the outer insulating ringof one or more depressions or recesses into which correspondinglydistributed steel balls held by a stationary cage ring engage, theseballs being resiliently supported against the face of a rubber ring heldby the cage ring. This cage ring, which is rigidly arranged between twogroups of contact rings, is provided with a setting mark whichcharacterizes the switch positions, and is held in position after theassembly of the entire contact-ring switch, by a screw which clamps itagainst the carrier sleeve. Since an electric connection is made by thisscrew which the metal sleeve telescoped over the body of the carrier,this-cage ring may be used for the feeding of the current in stationaryscanning.

The foregoing and further objects. and features of the invention willappear from the description of an embodiment which will be describedbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a portion of the dispatch tube carrier,

partially in section and in elevation; Fig. 2 is section through asetting aesaaie Fig. 3 shows an end view of the setting ring, partially1n section and partially in elevation;

4 shows the setting ring in side elevation;

Fig. 5 shows the development of the sheet-metal sleeve for effecting theselective electrical connecting of the individual contact rings witheach other;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the sheet-metal sleeve;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the sheet-metal sleeve; and

8 shows the notch place for the setting ring, in sectlon.

As may be seen from Fig. 1, on the tubular carrier body 1, made ofinsulating material, there is arranged a metal sleeve 2 which can beshoved upon or telescoped over the carrier body 1 from the end thereofup to the stop 3, against which there also rests the stationary contactring 4 which is also shoved-on from the end of the carrier. Anothersleeve of insulating material 5, which can also be shoved-on, serves asspacer between the contact ring 4 and the first setting ring E1, shownseparately in Fig. 2 which comprises contact rings 7, 8, 9 andinsulating rings 10, 11, 12, 13. These parts also can be shoved onto themetal sleeve 2, one after the other, from the end of the carrier. Theinsulating ring 13 has recesses or cavities 14 formed on its face side,as may be noted from Figs. 2 and 3. Steel balls 16 held by the cage ring15 engage in these recesses 14, as is shown on a larger scale in Fig. 8.The cage ring 15 is of U-shaped cross-section and contains a rubber ring17 against the face surface of which the steel balls 16 are resilientlysupported. The cage ring 15 is fastened to the carrier body 1 by meansof a screw 6 omitted in Fig. 1. The cage ring 15 is provided with asetting mark 18 (Fig. l) with reference to which the setting rings E1and B2 are set. The setting ring E2 is developed in the same manner asthe setting ring E1 and comprises corresponding insulating rings andcontact rings which may be pushed one after the other onto the dispatchtube carrier from the end of.

Each contact ring 7, 8, 9 is held by two insulating rings. Thus, forinstance, the contact ring 7 is held by the insulating rings and 11. Theinsulating rings 10 to 13 are of such shape that their outer annularsurface adjoins and is flush with the outer annular surface of thecontact ring. Each insulating ring is provided on one or both face sideswith a cutout of chord shape as may be noted from Fig. 3, which does notextend over the entire width of the ring. Upon assembling the individualinsulating rings 10 to 13 there are therefore produced cutouts 19, 20,21 which are respectively covered by the overlying corresponding contactrings 7, 8, 9; thus for instance the cutout 19 corresponds to thecontact ring 7. In each of these cutouts 19-21 there is inserted a leafspring 22 which rests against the contact ring 7 associated with it andat the same time forms a mechanical coupling member between two adjacentinsulating rings. The assembling of the contact rings and of theinsulating rings with the inserted leaf springs 22 may be effectedbefore being shoved onto the body of the carrier since the contactrings, as a result of their seat on the insulating rings, connect thelatter with each other so that the setting rings E1 and E2 each form astructural unit which can be shoved onto the body of the carrier aftercompletion thereof. The leaf springs may be inserted in a very simplemanner upon placing the individual insulating rings and contact ringsinto position one after the other, no fastening members being requiredtherefor. The leaf springs 22 are so dimensioned that they curveradially inwardly with a slight arch, when placed in the correspondingcutouts 22. These leaf springs 22 slide continuously on the metal sleeve2 upon the turning of the setting ring E1 or of the setting ring E2.This metal sleeve 2 is provided with cutouts '23, as shown in Fig. 5which are dimensioned and distributed according to the individual switchpositions IVHI of the contact ring switch.

The leaf springs 22 which slide on the sheet-metal sleeve therefore comeout of contact with the sheet-metal sleeve 2 at the cutouts 23 and thenslide on the insulating body 1 of the pneumatic dispatch carrier so thatthe electric connection between the corresponding contact ring of thesetting ring and the metal sleeve 2 is interrupted. The contact rings ofeach setting ring E1 and E2 can therefore be connected in eightdifferent combinations with the stationary contact 4 via the metalsleeve 2.

Referring to Fig. 5 which shows the metallic sleeve 2 in developed View,such sleeve being in conductive engagement with the stationary contactring 4 (Fig. 1), and being provided with the cutouts 23. Having assumedthat there are provided two groups E1 and E2 of contact rings, there areaccordingly two groups of cutouts 23. The cutouts for the group Ell arein Fig. 5 at the left, including the small cutout marked 23 at the topdown to and including the large cutout marked 23 at the bottom. Similarcutouts for the contact ring group B2 are provided at the right. Theeight different switch combinations or positions are marked I to VIII.The contact ring group E1 may be provided for the setting of groupswitches and the contact ring group E2 for the setting of stationswitches.

There are no cutouts, in the metallic sleeve 2, for position I of thecontact ring groups E1 and E2. Accordingly, the leaf springs 22, forexample, of the contact rings 7, 8, 9 of the group El (Figs. 1 and 2)will engage the metallic sleeve 2 and will thus be conductivelyconnected therewith and with the stationary contact ring 4 (Fig. 1). Thegroup E2 will establish similar contact engagement in position I.

In position II, contact rings 7 and 3 will be connected with themetallic sleeve 2; contact ring 9 will be disconnected therefrom sinceits leaf spring 22 will extend through the corresponding cutout and willbe in engagement with the inner insulating member 1.

In position I11, contact rings 7 and 9 will be electrically conductivelyconnected with the metallic sleeve 2 while contact ring 8 Will beconnected with the insulating member 1 over the corresponding leafspring.

The various settings in positions IV to V1 may easily be derived fromFig. 5. Positions VII and VIII will be briefly explained below.

In position VII, the leaf springs associated with the contact rings 7and 8 will extend through a cutout in the metallic sleeve 2 intoengagement with the insulating member 1. Contact ring 9, however, willbe conductively connected with the metallic sleeve 2 and thus with thestationary contact ring 4.

In position VIII, all three leaf springs of the three contact rings 7,8, 9 will extend through the large cutout into engagement with theinsulating member 1 and will thus be electrically disconnected from themetallic sleeve '2 and, therefore, from the stationary contact ring 4-.In such case, no current will flow, at the scanning point, by way ofwipers, such as the wiper K1, and over the stationary contact ring 4 andwiper K to ground. This means, that no switching operation is to beeffected in position VIII, this being assumed to be a station at the endof a tube carrier run, calling for discharge without efiecting anyswitching.

What has been said above with reference to the contact ring groups E1(contact rings 7, 8 and 9) also applies to contact ring group E2comprising similar contact rings.

It will be seen from the forging explanations, that it is possible todistinguish by means of the contact ring groups E1 and E2, between 8times 8:64 stations. In the case of larger installations, having morethan 64 stations, the respective contact ring groups may each comprise,for example, four contact rings, thus making it possible to provide for2 :16 switching combinations, that is, to distinguish between 16 times16:256 stations. It is, of course, also possible to provide one groupwith four contact rings and another group with three contact rings,resulting in the possibility to distinguish between 16 times 8:128stations.

The detection of the destination symbol for which the dispatch tubecarrier has been set is afiected at the scanning place in the customarymanner by the contact wipers K and further wipers of which only contactwiper K1 is shown in Fig. 1. The remaining omitted contact wipers arethen, in the position of the pneumatic dispatch carrier shown in thedrawing, simultaneously in contact with the contact rings on the settingrings E1 and E2. In other words, there is a wiper such as K1 for eachsetting ring of each contact ring group E1 and E2. The one pole of thesource of current (not shown) is connected in the customary manner tothe contact wiper K, while the contact wipers such as K1 are connectedto the other pole of the source of current by way of relays respectivelyassociated therewith. These re lays are excited in various combinationsdepending on the position of the setting rings E1 and E2 and control thepneumatic tube switches in the customary manner via a pyramidalswitching of the relay contacts.

In the case of flying scanning of the destination characteristic as thepneumatic dispatch carrier travels past the contact wipers K, K1 etc. aswitching effect should only be produced when the pneumatic dispatchcarrier has the position shown in Fig. 1 with respect to the stationarycontact wipers K, K1 etc. This means that the distance a between thecontact ring 4 and the first adjustable contact ring 7 must be greaterthan the distance b between the contact ring 7 and the last contact ringof the setting ring E2.

Changes may be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A pneumatic dispatch carrier comprising a tubular carrier body ofinsulating material, an annular stationary contact member operativelymounted on said tubular carrier body, a tubular metallic sleeveconnected at one end thereof with said stationary contact member, asleeve of insulating material concentrically mounted with respect tosaid tubular carrier body and said tubular metallic sleeve; a pluralityof insulating rings disposed on said tubular metallic sleeve, metalliccontact rings rotatably suppoited on said insulating rings, said tubularmetallic sleeve provided with cutouts providing individual switchpositions; a lateral cutout formed in each insulating ring and alignedwith a corresponding cutout of the adjoining insulating ring to form arecess therewith extending between adjoining insulating rings, a leafspring disposed in each recess in coupling relationship with respect tothe corresponding adjoining insulating rings to permit common rotationof a plurality of said metallic contact rings, said leaf springs beingrespectively adapted to establish responsive to rotation of thecorresponding metallic contact rings selective conductive engagement ofsaid metallic contact rings with said tubular metallic sleeve andadapted to come out of contact with said tubular metallic sleeve at saidcutouts providing individual switch positions.

2. A pneumatic dispatch carrier according to claim 1, wherein saidcutouts formed in said tubular metallic sleeve selectively receive saidleaf springs responsive to corresponding rotation of said metalliccontact rings for the purpose of disconnecting the corresponding metallic contact rings from said tubular metallic sleeve.

3. A pneumatic dispatch carrier according to claim 1, wherein apredetermined plurality of said metallic contact rings and associatedinsulating rings form a contact setting unit which is rotatable aboutsaid tubular metallic sleeve, and a device for securing said unit inangularly adjusted position, said device comprising a stationary cagering disposed at one end of said contact setting unit and carrying steelballs resting against a resilient insert contained therein, depressionsbeing formed in a member of said contact setting unit adjoining saidstationary cage ring for receiving said steel balls in stop engagementtherewith.

4. A pneumatic dispatch carrier according to claim 3, wherein saidstationary cage ring is cross-sectional U shaped and electricallyconductively interconnected with said tubular metallic sleeve.

5. A pneumatic dispatch carrier according to claim 1, wherein saidannular stationary contact member is disposed at a point spaced from therotatable metallic contact ring nearest thereto by a distance which isgreater than the distance between the first and the last rotatablemetallic contact ring as seen in the direction of travel of saidcarrier.

6. A pneumatic dispatch carrier according to claim 1, wherein saidtubular metallic sleeve, said sleeve of insulating material, saidinsulating rings and said metallic contact rings are removably mountedupon said tubular carrier body, and means disposed at one end of saidtubular carrier body for securing said tubular metallic sleeve, saidsleeve of insulating material, said insulating rings and said metalliccontact rings in position and against axial displacement with respect tosaid annular stationary contact member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,667,314 Goerlich Ian. 26, 1954 2,723,810 Manteufiel Nov. 15, 1955FOREIGN PATENTS 387,930 Great Britain Feb. 16, 1933

